Lisa and Jim

Meet Lisa and Jim -- guess where they met?

When I first met Lisa and Jim, they told me they were not really photo people; they didn't know much about photography, and they didn't have many photos of themselves, etc. I can totally relate to not having many photos together -- either Rich or I always have the camera on any family outing, so we really don't have any nice photos of ourselves as a couple. That's why I love doing engagement sessions -- it's really fulfilling to be able to give a couple beautiful photos of themselves, especially in places that mean something to them!

Lisa and Jim are downtown people, like us, so they decided that since most of their important moments (meeting, first date, engagement) happened in the Elmwood Village area, that would be the perfect area to do their engagement portraits. And I totally agree -- if I were having them done, I'd probably do some cool urban portraits too. I love this city!

Then we headed over to Bidwell Park to that funky Griffis piece that's there.

Okay, so these are my favorite photos of the day. Seriously, aren't they gorgeous?? I cannot wait to shoot Lisa in her wedding gown!

My favorite of the day, period. I think it's smoldering!

I love a couple that's willing to get dirty for me!

I've been absolutely dying to shoot someone under this lion on Delaware Ave. A little more of the plaster is gone after each winter, and I don't think the Lion is going to last all that much longer. Anyway, L+J were up for it - so we shot!

Rich and I always shoot the same thing in very different ways...and I guess I must have popped up in a few of his frames :) He'll get over it. This is me and my very, very favorite lens working in close!

The rock shot...

And here's some cool, Rich "hand geometry" :)

So, since we were in the neighborhood, we had to stop off at the first date location! I love this shot of Rich's!

So, we're walking past this door, and I just yelled that I loved this shade of blue and that we should come back and take some photos in this doorway. Lisa was like, I guess that would be pretty appropriate, since that's where my mom works. Crazy, right? And that would be insane and random in any other city, but there's that weird Buffalo thing here where everyone's connected.

Thanks, guys, for hanging out with us -- I know it wasn't super warm, but we had a blast with you two, and we're really excited about shooting your wedding next year. It's going to be fabulous!